Marking machine



Fb. 13, 1945'. R. E, J. NORDUIST ET AL 2,369,172

. MARKING MACHINE L I -'ledl Juney 2.9, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb 13, 1945 R. J. NORDQU'IST ETAL 2,369,172

MARKINGy MACHINE Filed June 29 1940', e sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 13, 1945. R. E. J. NoRDQulsr ET AL I 2,369,172

MARKING MACHINE Filed June` 29, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.1

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sa 37 96 (I FHI," f2 "f /45 l IIL` b9 'mi nl@ 62 4 v 93 UH @ffw E BY ATTORNEYS Feb. 13, 1945 R. E. J. NoRDQulsT E-r A1.

MARKING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 lN ENTORS M?? ATTORNEYS Feb. 13, 1945. R. E, .LNoRDQulsT ET AA1; 2,369,172 y MARKING MACHINE Filed June 29 1940 6 Sheets-Sheel 5 A@ A v f v/ l ATTONEYS Feb- 13, 1945- R. E. J. NoRDQUlsT ET Al. 2,369,172

MARKING MACHINE,

Filed June '29,v 1940 5, Sheets-Sheet 6 l VENTORS Jaw BY g Q 6.6m

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 13, 1945 MARKING MACHINE Ronald E. J. Nordquist, Maplewood, and Herbert F. Cox, Jr., Murray Hill, N. J., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 29, 1940, Serial No. 343,296

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine for marking articles with an identifying legend, symbol or mark and has particular reference to marking wax coated articles with a thermoplastic marking material.

In the manufacture of articles it is sometimes desirable to mark the article with an identifying legend or symbol which will be permanent and clearly visible. Where the composition of the article is of a greasy nature orwhere the article is covered with a greasy coating such as wax, paraiiin or the like, it has been found that ordinary inks or other materials applied by pressure alone will not readily adhere to such a surface and the mark is not of a permanent nature.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this diiliculty yby applying a thermoplastic marking material to such a surface under conditions of pressure and heat and thereby embedding the heated marking material into the waxed surface while partially melting the wax or other coating or compositio-n and to effect a permanent clear cut identifying legend or symbol which is clearly legible.

An object therefore, of the invention is the provision of a marking machine wherein articles of a greasy composition or those having a greasy coating are readily marked with /a thermoplastic marking material applied under combined conditions of heat and pressure to effect a permanent, clearly legible4 identifying legend or mark which is embedded into the surface of the article.

Another object is the provision of such a mark- .ing machine wherein the articles to be` marked travel through the machine in a continuously moving procession, stopping only momentarily at a marking station where the permanent thermoplastic mark is applied to the surface of each sition so that a desired mark or symbol may be made on the article.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with' the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. Y Y

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an enlarged top plan view of one form of article to be marked, this being a bre container;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a marking machine embodying the instant invention and adapted to mark containers of the character illustrated in Fig. 1, with parts shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical part sectional and part elevational viewof the machine shown in Fig. 2, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail view taken substantially along` the section line II-l in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of that portion of the machine shown at the middle left in Fig. 3, with parts shown in a 'slightly different position and some parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 6-6 in Fig. 3, with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional detail taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of parts shown in Fig. 8 as viewed from the left in that figure, with a part shown in section;

Figs. 10 and 11 are horizontal sections taken substantially along the broken lines |0-IU, II-I I in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken substantially along the broken line I2-I2 in Fig. 3.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a marking machine adapted to print a permanent, legible identifying mark on fibre milk containers of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979, issued July 6, 1937, to John M. Hothersall. Such containers, indicated by the letter A are preferably coated with paraffin and an identifying mark B, preferably the name of the day on which the milk -is filled into the container, is embedded into. the

top surface of an overhanging ledge or end seam C of the container.

The containers A are preferably fed into the machine in an upright position along a horizontal runway I I (Fig. 2). At the inner end of the runway the containers are individually picked on in timed order and are advanced in spaced relation. This timing and spacing of the containers is preferably effected by a constantly rotating star wheel I2 having a plurality of outwardly extending -container' engaging and propelling fingers I3 formed at spaced intervals around its outer periphery. The star wheel is secured to a vertical shaft I4 which is carried in suitable bearings formed in a frame I 5 which constitutes the main frame ofthe machine. The shaft may be rotated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine. i

A can A picked up by. a linger I3 of the star wheel I2 is pushed laterally onto and over a table I6 being propelled along a slnuous path of travel between a pair of spaced and parallel guide rails I1, I8 which are secured to the table. These guide rails are curved first extending around thev star wheel and thence outwardly at an angle away from the star wheel and around a positioning device 2l. Passage along this sinuous path brings the moving container into position for marking. y

The container positioning device 2| includes a plurality of container propelling arms 22 (Figs. 2 and 3) which are mounted on pivot pins 23 carried in vertical bearing lugs 24 formed on a hub 25. The hub is keyed to a vertically disposed shaft 26 which is journaled in a lower bearing 21 formed in the table I6 and in an upper bearing 26 formed in a stationary cam 29 secured to a housing 3| carried on the table I6. The shaft extends down into the machine frame I and is continuously rotated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine.

The outer ends of the container propelling arms 22 are formed with 'curved cup-shaped claws 35 which engage behind a container A on opposite sides of an adjacent corner. These claws continue the advancement of the container between the guide rails I1, I8 as the arms 22 are carried around by the hub and the shaft 26.

The inner ends of the arms 22 (Figs. l0 and 11) are formed with laterally extending lever arms 31 which carry cam rollers 38. These rollers operate in a cam groove 39 which is formed in the stationary cam 29 hereinbefore mentioned. Hence as the hub 25 and shaft 26 carry the arms in a circle around the shaft the cam rollers 32 traverse the ystationary cam groove 39 and accelerate or retard the movement of the claws relative to the rotation of the arms.

One section ofthe cam groove is indicated by the numeral 4I and is so shaped that a roller 38 vtraversing this portion of the cam suddenly accelerates the claw 35 of the arm 22 which has just picked upa container A. This sudden acceleration of the arm claw shifts the container into a predetermined position under a marking mechanism vgenerally indicated by the numeral 42, and the arm claw then falls back for a moment to permit the container to temporarily remain stationary.

To properly locate the container at the marking station, the claw 35 moves it into engagement with a locating or stop lever 45 (Fig. 10) having a hook end 46 against which the corner of the container engages. pivot stud 41 secured in a lug 48 (Figs. 2 and 3) formed on the cam 29. The free hook end of the lever carries a cam roller 5I (see also Fig.

ll) which operates against a rotating edge cam 52 carried on the shaft 26. A tension spring 53 having one end connected to the leverand the opposite end secured to the cam 29 keeps theca-m roller 5I in engagement with the cam 52. l

The normal position of the hook end 46 of the lever 45 is out of the path of travel of the containers A passing between the guide rails I1, I8. However, when a container approaches the marking mechanism as above described, the rotating This lever is carried on a cam 52 pushes the lever outwardly thus placing the hook end of the lever into the path of travel of the container. The container enga-ging against this barrier pauses and is then in proper position for marking. During this rest period in the travel of the container itis marked with the identifying mark B as will now be explained.

aaeai'fa The marking mechanism 42 (Figs. 2, 3. 5 and 12) hereinbefore mentioned includes a movable marking element 6I disposed adjacent to and above the outer edge C of the container, when the latter is at the marking station, and a movable anvil element 62 which is disposed below the edge C of such a positioned container. A tape or ribbon 63 carrying on one surface a coating of thermoplastic marking material, extends between the marking element and the container. It is these elements and ribbon that cooperate in marking the container With the identifying mark B.

The marking element 6I preferably comprises a cylindrical barrel 65 (Figs. 5 and 7) having a plurality of making dies 66 set in the peripheral surface of the barrel. There are preferably seven of these dies, each mark constituting a day of the week. The barrel surrounds a conventional electric coil heating element 61 which is mounted on a hollow shaft 68. Wires 69 connecting with the coil extend through the shaft and may lead from any suitable source of electric heating energy. The electric energy by passing through the resistance of the coil 61,'heats the barrel 65 and the marking dies 66 to a desired temperature.

The hollow shaft 68 is carried in spaced bearings 1I of a marker housing 12. One end of the shaftl extends beyond the housing and carries a thimble 13 having a reduced diameter section 14. This thimble constitutes a convenient means of turning the shaft 68 to bring a desired marking die 66 into proper position for marking the containers. To facilitate this positioning of the marking dies, the outer surface of the reduced diameter section 14 (Fig. 2) is marked with the days of the week corresponding to the marking dies and when the thimble is turned to bring the desired day on the thimble into register with an index mark 16 on the housing 12, the die 66 of the same day is in position for marking.

Provision is made for locking the die barrel 65 in position when a desired marking die 66 is set for marking the containers. Thislis preferably brought about by a manually operable locking pin 18 (Fig, 7) which is carried in a bore 19 formed in the housing 12 adjacent the marking barrel. i

The inner end of the pin is formed with'a projection 8| which ts into one of seven locking holes 82 formed in the barrel between the marking dies. The outer end of the locking pin is formed with a stem 84 which extends beyond the housing and carries an enlarged head or operating button 85. Within the bore 19 a compression spring 86 surrounds the stem and is interposed between the pin and a shoulder 81 formed in the housing. This spring maintains the pin under an inward pressure or tension and thus keeps the pin projection 8| in its hole 82.

When it is desired to rotate vthe marking barrel 65 to bring a different die 66 into container marking position, the button 85 on the lock-ing bpin stem 84 is manually pulled out and held against the resistance of the spring 86 and this withdraws the projection 8| from its hole 82. After resetting the marking barrel, the button is released and the spring thereupon returns the pin projection to its new hole and thus locks the barrel against movement.

The marking element 6I thus described is normally in a position above the path of travel of the containers A and actuating parts are adapted to be moved down against'the tape 63 to carry the latter into contact with the edge C of a container when it is at rest and in marking position as above described. For this purpose the housing 12 is formed with along bearing9| (Figs. 2, 8 and 12) which is freely mounted on a stationary shaft 92, the ends of which are secured in side Webs 93 of a bracket 94 bolted to the machine table I6.

The housing 12 is lowered in proper time by an arm 96 (Figs. 5 and 12) which is formed on the housing. The outer end of the arm is pivotally connected to a' link 91 which is also connected by a pivot pin 98 to the upper bifurcated end of a vertically disposed lever 99. Lever 99 is secured to a rock shaft I| carried in bearings |02, |03 formed on the bracket 94. The shaft |0| extends beyond thebearing |03 and carries a lever |05. The outer end of this lever |05 is connected to a link or operating rod |06 which may be reciprocated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine.

Hence -when a. container A is in position on the table I6 4at the marking station, the rod |06 shifts the lever |05A toward the left as viewed in Fig, 5 and this rocks the shaft |0| thus moving the lever 99 toward the right. This movement of the lever 99 pushes on the link 91 and thus rocks the marker housing 12 on its shaft 92. that brings the heated marking die 66 and the tape 6| into contact with the container edge C.

While the marking die 66 is moving into marking position, the anvil 62 is also moving into position to back up and support the edge C of the container for the marking operation. For this purpose the anvil 62 is secured to a rocker bracket (Figs. 5 and 12) which is formed with spaced bearings ||2, H3. The two bearings are i disposed one on each side of the marker housing bearing 9|. Bearing ||2 is formed with a downwardly projecting arm ||5 the outer end of which is connected to a link ||6. The link is also connected to the actuating arm 99 by means of the same pivot pin 98 which connects the link 91 to the arm.

Hence when the actuating arm 99 shifts to move the marking elements into marking position it operation it is yieldably Ibacked up by a plate ||1 which is carried in the container locating or stop lever 45 (see Fig. 10). This plate is formed on a stem ||8 which slides in a bore in the lever. A pin I9 in the stem operates in a slot in the lever and prevents the plate from turning, while a pair of compression springs disposed in recesses in the lever, press the plate outwardly toward the container and thus provide the yieldable feature.

Hence when the lever 45 is shifted into the path of travel of the moving container to stop the latter at its proper location relative to the marking head 6|, the lever also brings the plate |1 into engagement with the edge C of the container A which is opposite to the edge to be marked. This action thus yieldably holds 'the container in place at the marking station for the marking operation.

The tape 63 which is interposed between the It is this rocking of the marker housing Figs. 3 and 5.

marking die 69 and the container A is preferably of continuous ribbon form and is fed from a roll 2| of such tape carried on a reel |22, see Figs. 3 and 6. The reel is formed on along hub |23 mounted on a stationary rod |24 secured in a cover housing |25 which surrounds the marking mechanism 42. The cover housing is preferably bolted to the bracket 94. A Washer |26 secured tothe inner end of the rod retains the reel |22 in place.

A slight tension is preferably put on the reel |22 to prevent the tape from unrolling too freely. This ltension is brought about by a compression spring |21 which surrounds the rod |24 and is interposed between the cover |25 and the outer end of the hub |23. The spring is preferably housed i'n a recess |28 formed in a boss |29 pro-I vided on the inside of the cover housing.

As the tape 63 comes off the reel |22, it preferably travels horizontally over an idler roller |3| (Figs. 3 and 4) mounted on aiiixed arm |32 bol-ted to the cover |25 and then extends downwardly toward the marking elements where it passes under an intermediate idler roller |35 (see Fig. 5). This idler roller is carried on av stationary arm |36 vwhich is secured to the stationary shaft 92 adjacent the bearing ||3 of the anvil rocker bracket i The tape 63 passes from the intermediate roller |35 over the container A which is positioned .to be marked under the marking dies 66 and then extends under the stationary shaft 92 passing between feed rollers 31, |38 located at the side of the machine. The tape so threaded through the marking mechanism extends across the path of travel of the containers' and close to the tops of the containers as best shown in A shield or guard |4| (Figs. 1,

' 5 and 12) is provided in order to prevent damage tothe tape by the container as it moves into the marking station. Such a guard has a forward curled or inclined edge |42 and is secured to the roller arm |36.

The tape or ribbon 63 is fed in an intermittent or step-by-step manner in time with the operation of the marking dies so that for each marking 'operation anew section of the tape will be presented to lthe marking dies. This is brought about by tape feeding elements which include the feed rollers |31, |38 (Figs. 6 and.12).

Feed roller |31 is preferably made of resilientl rubber and is mounted on a shaft |43 carried in bearings |44 formed in upright spaced and parallel webs |45 which extend upwardly from the bearings |03 of the bracket 94 (see also Fig. 8). Feed roller |38 is disposed below the feed roller |31 and is formed with side shoulders |41 which guide the tape as it passes between the rollers. Roller |38 is preferably made of metal and its outer surface may be corrugated to facilitate feeding of the tape. It is mounted on a shaft |5| which is carried in bearings |52 formed in the bifurcated end of a swing arm |53. The arm is mounted on the shaft 0|. A tension spring |56 having one end connected to the swing arm and the other connected to the bracket 94 holds the corrugated roller |38 into engagement with the resilient roller |31.

The feed rollers |31, 4|38 are preferably rotated in unison .by meshing ygears |58, |59 (Figs. 6 and 9) which are mounted on the respective shafts |43, |5I. Gear |59 is preferably the driving gear and for lthis purpose it is formed integrally with a ratchet wheel |6|. This ratchet wheel is r0- tated by a pawl |62 which is carried on a pivot pin |63 secured in an arm |64 formed on a hub |65 mountedl on the shaft |5| adjacent the ratchet Wheel. The hub is retained in place on the shaft by a washer |66 and a screw |61. The hub is also formed with an arm |68 which is connected to a link |69 (see also Figs. 8 and 12). The link at its opposite end is connected to a lever arm |1| which is formed on the bearing ||3 of the anvil rocker bracket Hence on each rocking movement of the anvil rocker bracket I, i. e., when the anvil is drawing away from the container after a marking operation, the lever arm |1| and link -|69 draws up on the arm |68 of the hub |65 and thus rocks the hub on its shaft. This rocking motion pushes the pawl |62 against the teeth of the ratchet wheel and thus rotates the latter through a partial rotation. The feed rollers are thus rotated through a small arc and the tape is advanced between them, preferably an amount substan-v tially equal to the width of the heated marking dies 66. A spring |13 (Fig. 9) holds the pawl |62 in engagement with the ratchet wheel |6I at all times.

Provision is also made for manually rotating the feed rollers |31, |38 if desired. This may be brought about by a knurled thimble |15 which is formed on a projecting end vof the feed roller shaft |5|. The used tape 63 as it leaves the rollers |31,'|38 falls into a waste basket |16 which is provided for this purpose.

The marking dies 66 are preferably maintaine at a temperature of between 300 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit and hence when these heated dies press the tape 63 against the supported edge C of the container, the thermoplastic marking material is heated by the dies and is thereby transferred to the container. Since the outer surface of the container is coated with a wax or parafn substance, the heated dies partially melt the coating on the container and make an impression which is that of the design Iof thedies and the thermoplastic substance from the markingribbon is thus substituted for the wax, actually fill'- ing in the space left by the melted portion of the wax. The action goes still further and definitely embeds the design in the fibre material of the container and thereby results in a permanent, clear and distinctly legibler identifying mark which prominently stands out on the container.

After such a marking operation the container is moved away fromthe marking mechanism 42 and is discharged from the machine. The container locating stop 45 (Fig. 10) is first shifted out of the way by action of the undulatory cam 52 and tension spring 53. The claw 35 -(Figs. 1 and 11) of the propelling arm 22 for that container next moves under the influence of the cam 29 and advances the marked container further along the table I6 and between vthe guide rails |1, I8 discharging the container onto a conveyor belt |8|.

The machine end of the belt |8| takes over a pulley |82 mounted on a suitable shaft journaled in bearings formed in the main frame I5. This pulley and belt may be actuated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine. The container thus placed on the belt is carried away to a suitable place of deposit. This completes the cycle of marking operations on a container A passing through the machine.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A machine for marking containers with an identifying legend, comprising in combination, a support, means for advancing containers to be marked along said support in a predetermined path of travel into marking position, a movable marking head disposed in the path of travel of the advancing containers, a marking die located in said head, a heating element also disposed in said head for heating the die, a ribbon carrying a thermoplastic marking material interposed between the die and a container to be marked, a movable anvil adjacent the container, and means for moving said head and said anvil simultaneously to bring the heated die and the container together under pressure with the ribbon therebetween to transfer the thermoplastic material from the ribbon to the container.

2. A machine for marking containers with an identifying legend which comprises in combination feeding means for advancing a container along a predetermined path of travel, a marking die disposed adjacent the path of travel of the container for transferring the desired symbol to the container, a heating element for heating said die, a ribbon carrying a thermoplastic marking material disposed adjacent said die, a shield member located adjacent the ribbon and adjacent the path of travel of the container for maintaining the ribbon clear of the moving container to protect it against damage by the container, and means for bringing the heated die and the container together under pressure with the ribbon interposed therebetween and while the container is proceeding along its path of travel to transfer the thermoplastic material from the ribbon to the container to establish the identifying mark of the-die in the container,

3. A machine for marking containers with an identifying legend, which comprises in combination: a support for said containers, means for successively advancing containers to be marked along said support, a movable marking head disposed adjacent said support in the path of travel of the containers, a marking die located in said head for transferring the desired symbol onto a projecting edge of a container, a heating element also disposed in said head for heating the die, a ribbon carrying a thermoplastic marking material interposed between the die and the container to be marked, means for positioning and holding a container to be marked in said marking head, a movable anvil adjacent the container, means for moving said head and said anvil simultaneously to bring the heated die and the container together under pressure with the ribbon interposed therebetween to transfer the thermoplastic material from the ribbon to the container, and yieldable pressure means operable against the container during the marking operation to maintain the projecting edgeofthe container which receives the mark in the desired position relative t0 the lmarking die and the anvil.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST HERBERT F. COX, JR. 

